About

Aurora Orchestra

Chamber, Symphony

Since its launch in 2005, Aurora Orchestra has established itself amongst the UK's leading chamber orchestras, and as one of the most creative forces in classical music today.

Aurora’s projects seek to combine the highest quality of performance with an exceptional breadth of artistic horizons and a trailblazing approach to concert presentation.

Intermusica works with Aurora Orchestra to develop their international touring profile and build on the exciting work they have already begun across the world in spreading their approaching to concert performance and audience development.

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Resident Orchestra at Kings Place in London since 2009, in 2016 Aurora also became Associate Orchestra at Southbank Centre. It performs regularly at other leading venues including Wigmore Hall, the Globe Theatre and the Royal Opera House (Linbury Theatre), and has appeared at the Royal Albert Hall as part of each of the past seven BBC Proms seasons.

Aurora has worked with a roster of artists ranging from Ian Bostridge, Brett Dean and Sarah Connolly to Edmund de Waal, Wayne McGregor and Björk. The orchestra’s inspirational Principal Conductor, Nicholas Collon, continues his ascent as one of the most sought-after conductors of his generation.

Aurora has embraced an entrepreneurial and risk-taking approach to programming and concert presentation, challenging many of the conventions around the classical concert format and igniting creative dialogue between orchestral music and other art forms. Amongst its boldest initiatives in recent seasons has been the performance of complete symphonies from memory without the aid of sheet music – an approach thought to be currently unique amongst professional orchestras worldwide.

The orchestra has developed a busy international touring schedule, with projects over the past years including an appearance in Melbourne, Bremen, São Paulo, Shanghai and St Petersburg. In 2014 the orchestra announced a three-disc recording contract with Warner Classics (formerly EMI Classics) as the first major signing on the newly re-launched label.

Past tourBeethoven Symphony No.3 by heartEurope, August 2017

Aurora Orchestra with Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon continue their exploration of symphonies from memory with Beethoven Symphony No.3, on tour in Europe.

In addition to a by heart performance of Eroica, the orchestra will perform Britten Sinfonietta, and Eight songs for a Mad King by Maxwell Davies, in keeping with the 2017 Berlioz Festival's celebration of the composer's life and work.

Aurora Orchestra will return to South America in 2018, focusing in Brazil where they will build on work started in the country with the British Council's Transform programme in 2014.

Performances

5-14 November 2018

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Past tourChamber music at Bilbao's Musika MusicaEurope, March 2017

In March 2017 Nicholas Collon and his pioneering Aurora Orchestra will be returning to Bilbao for three chamber concerts focused on the music of Mahler and Dvořák.

The Orchestra will perform two chamber arrangements by Iain Farrington of Mahler's great symphonic works - Symphony No.1 on Saturday 4th March and Das Lied von Erde with soloists Jane Irwin and Andrew Staples on Sunday 5th March to close the Musika Musica Festival.

A third programme featuring Dvořák's Sextet will complete Aurora Orchestra's residency at the festival.

Aurora Orchestra make their debut at Bilbao Philharmonic Society, including a performance of Mozart Symphony No.40 in G minor performed entirely from memory.

Aurora Orchestra perform a programme of Mozart and Beethoven conducted by Baldur Brönnimann, joined by pianist Louis Schwizgebel. The orchestra performed Mozart Symphony No.40 from memory at the BBC Proms in 2014 and have since given further performances of symphonies by Mozart and Beethoven from memory.